Anime News Service - March 23 - May 28 Anime News
6-1-05 (2:26AM EST)---- Japanese Box-Office
Kogyo Tsushinsha has posted it's weekend figures from the Japanese box-office showing movie ticket sales within domestic theaters. In it's opening week Sunrise and Bandai Visual's Mobile Suit Z Gundam -Heirs to the Stars- charted at #3. Gundam Z represented the only anime film in the top 10 this week.
6-1-05 (2:21AM EST)---- Satsuki And May's House At Center Of Tug O War
Following an internet auction ticket scalping row, the future of the embattled real life replica of Satsuki and May's House featured in My Neigbor Totoro has had some major developments in recent months. Currently one of the centerpieces of Nagoya's Aichi Expo 2005, it's been suggested by Studio Ghibli's Toshio Suzuki that following the event a permanent location will be decided on to build the house on once again. It's surfaced in the Japanese press recently that several municipalities are currently offering to host the home after Expo. These are Gifu Prefecture, Mitaka City, Higashimurayama City, Tokorozawa City, Gifu Prefecture Kamiishizu-cho, Yamanashi City, Toyota City and Mie Prefecture Kuwana City. The Chunichi Newspaper on May 24 even reported that Aichi Prefecture may soon sure also raise it's hand to be a host. Currently the true future destination remains up in the air.
6-1-05 (1:32AM EST)---- Sony Establishes Anime Music Portal
Sony Music has setup a special Japanese Language website for it's myriad Japanese animation music holdings. There, one can find samples and info from tunes to current shows like Full Metal Alchemist, Naruto, Bleach and Gundam.6-1-05 (12:58AM EST)---- NTV Reaps Big From Film Moves
NTV has recently seen large rewards from investments into others' films and indeed it's own released under the label NOMO (NTV Original Movie). On May 19 figures cameout showing sales totalling 357.6 billion Yen (Up 8.9% over first term), and a current profit 35.5 billion Yen (3.3% decrease). Operating profit saw a 110.0% increase and this can be attributed mainly to the success of Howl's Moving Castle which NTV holds significant shares. Under NOMO the Toho distributed love story Tokyo Tower made about 13.5 million US dollars in it's first six weeks in theaters. Likewise the manga based Makoto has also seen success under Shochiku distribution. International sales manager Masako Arisaka mentions NTV will move from strictly TV and Animation and expand more into motion pictures. 6-1-05 (12:33AM EST)---- Shochiku Opens Massive Multiplex Theater
Shochiku is celebrating it's 110th anniversary this year and April 23 saw the opening of Movix Kyoto, the largest multiplex movie theater in in western Japan. Covering 7 stories, 12 screens and 2,563 seats the huge complex will host Kyoto's first DLP screen as well as TAD sound. All screens offer Dolby Surround EX, stadium seating and Movix original highback seating. Tickets can be acquired online an via mobile phones. A unique feature to Movix Kyoto includes "Cinema Kabuki" which in essence will be big screen digital presentations of Kabuki plays.6-1-05 (12:31AM EST)---- TV Tokyo Establishes Animation Division
Longtime bigname anime production commitee fixture and outlet, TV Tokyo has announced an in-house animation division will be setup under an organizational reformation taking place July 1. Until now, animation fell under the the contents division in the contents business bureau. According to a May interview with President Sadahiko Sugaya will get involved with synchronizing events related to it's anime properties. 'Pocket Monster Festival' in July, 'NARUTO Ninja Dome '05', and 'BLEACH' events are planned.
5-31-05 (11:42PM EST)---- Manga Announces Macross Plus 10th Anniversary DVD BOX
In celebration of their 10 year anniversary, Manga Entertainment is pleased to announce the DVD Box set release of the award-winning Macross Plus series on June 14, 2005 - featuring all four 45-minute episodes on 2 DVDs available for the first time in one complete package.
Based on the original Superdimensional Fortress Macross, the ground-breaking anime franchise which spawned the immensely popular 1980s U.S. TV series Robotech, Macross Plus is set approximately thirty years after the events of the original Macross. Directed by the incomparable Shoji Kawamori (Escaflowne) with scripts provided by Cowboy Bebop writer Keiko Nobumoto, at the time of it's inception Macross Plus was one of the most expensive anime features ever created a fact readily seen in the film's stunning cinematography and seamless union of computer generated graphics and digital effects with traditional cel animation..
Nominated by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, for an Annie Award for "Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Home Video Production," Macross Plus is a technical marvel. Macross Plus is complemented by a riveting soundtrack that adds depth and emotion to the action-packed Top Gun-like animation.
In 2040 A.D. on the colonial planet Eden, the Ministry of Defense is testing and developing a transforming super-stealth aircraft, a new advanced defense vehicle to counter alien attacks. Isamu Dyson is an extroverted jet fighter maverick assigned as a test pilot on Project Super Nova. Competition heats up when he discovers his old rival, Guld, is a test pilot for a competing project. The arrival of Myung, a mutual ex-girlfriend and a big music manager, adds more tension when her client, the universe's most popular virtual reality singer, Sharon Apple, comes alive and is out to take over the galaxy.
Macross Plus scores with its triple-play of dynamic mecha action, dramatic characters and rock music elements creating a visual spectacle with mesmerizing whirlwind air combat scenes. This dramatic, visually superb and acclaimed 4 part anime series is now available in one complete box set and specially priced for its 10th Anniversary release!
Macross Plus: The Collection
Studio: Manga Entertainment Sales & Distribution: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Street Date: June 14, 2005 Pre-book Date: May 17, 2005
Bar Code: 0-13138-20069-3 Selection #: 2006-9
SRP: $39.98 Running Time: 2 DVDs at 90 minutes
Unrated: Suggested 13+.Contains animated violence. Parental discretion advised.
DVD FEATURES: Motion Menus, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. In English and Japanese Languages, English Subtitles, Musical Photo Gallery, Production Team Menus, Original Trailers
5-31-05 (10:32PM EST)---- Japan's Top Paid Mangaka
In somewhat of a tabloid tradition Japan's National Tax Administration Agency released it's annual manifesto of celebrities who took in the highest taxable income on May 16. But alas this may be last year such numbers are available to the public as the Agency may bar the release in favor of protection of personal information. Below is the manga artist ranking: 1. Rumiko Takahashi - Ranma 1/2
2. Aoyama Gosho - Detective Conan
3. Masashi Kishimoto - NARUTO
4. Yuji Horii - Dragon Quest
5. Ritsuko Kawai - Hamtaro
6. Naoki Urasawa - MONSTER
7. Takehiko Inoue - SLAM DUNK
8. Fujio Akatsuka - Genius Bacabon
9. Yanase Takashi - Anpanman
10. Masami Kurumada - Sage Fighter Hoshiya
Source: Manga News Service
5-31-05 (9:18PM EST)---- Most Recognized Japanese Chara In China
According to research conducted by Shanghia based Searchina Marketing Chibi Maruko and Crayon Shinchan are the 2 most well known Japanese characters from Japanese anime or manga known in China. Both got a 70% share from respondants when asked to name 2 such characters. Around 2000 men and women participated in the survey. "Slam Dunk", "Doraemon", and "Great detective Conan" exceeded 60% in the poll.
5-31-05 (8:22PM EST)---- 1st Chinese International Animation Festival
The inagural Chinese International Animation and Cartoon Festival has kicked off today in Chechiang Province, Hangzhou City. Running through June 5th, the event is being seen as the country's 1st big oppertunity for promoting it's contents industry to the world. Cosplay shows and other fanfare laden activities will intermingle within the business atmosphere. 200,000 people are expected over the 5 days.
5-31-05 (7:13PM EST)---- Shareholders Get Sneak Preview Of New Gudam Film
Bandai Visual held a special screening if it's new Gundam Zeta film on May 21st. The occasion was open only to stockholders of the company with the aim at deepening the understanding it's related productions. The screening events have occured since 2002. Within Japan's animation industry such a "perk" of being a company shareholder is not widespread compared to the music industry where firms like Avex are famous for giving investors concert access for instance.
5-31-05 (7:01PM EST)---- Sudoku Popularity Explodes In Britain
MSNBC has news of the Japanese number puzzle Sudoku which has been serialized rather quietly in the newspapers of America, Europe and Asia taking off as a big hit.5-31-05 (6:12PM EST)---- Bandai CN And Production I.G. Announce IGPX
Today at the 2005 Tokyo Anime Fair in Japan, Cartoon Network unveiled the highly anticipated new series, IGPX. Cartoon Network has been pioneer in bringing popular Japanese animation to the U.S., expanding the fan base further than ever expected. Now, Cartoon Network leads the pack once again by partnering with acclaimed animation studio, Production I.G. and Bandai Entertainment to produce IGPX, an original series for Toonami, the Cartoon Network action programming block that first brought anime to wide audiences in the U.S.
IGPX will combine the talents of both Cartoon Network and Production I.G., establishing a new production paradigm. Blending the quality and style of anime with Western storytelling, IGPX will be the first instance of a U.S. cable network working directly with a Japanese animation studio to create an original series. The new original series that uses both traditional and CGI animation will debut in Fall 2005 during Toonami, currently #1 in the U.S. with boys 9-14 and 12-17 for 2005 to date.
"Toonami brought Japanese animation to a new generation of fans in the U.S., showcasing popular anim? series like Dragonball Z, The Big O and Yu Yu Hakusho," said Jim Samples, executive vice president and general manager for Cartoon Network. "Now, Toonami is the first to team up with one of the most respected and well-known animation studios in Japan, Production I.G., with a new approach on production, setting the stage for future co-productions." "I am very honored for Production I.G. to collaborate with Cartoon Network, and for our show to be broadcast on the world's largest animation network, viewed in 160 countries. This co-production relationship with Cartoon Network is what truly motivated our staff to create such an amazing piece of work," said Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, president of Production I.G.
Production I.G., internationally recognized for creating high-quality animation, including well known properties like Ghost in the Shell, Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL and the animation sequences in Kill Bill Vol.1, brings their stylish vision to IGPX. Cartoon Network first partnered with Production I.G. in 2003 to produce five 5-minute episodes of IGPX for an on-air Toonami event in 2003.
In IGPX, the year is 2048 and the "IGPX" has become the world's most-popular sport. It's so big that an entire city was built for the racing industry where competitions take place on a huge, 60-mile track called "The Big Eye." In the "Immortal Grand Prix," two teams of three Mechs, high-tech fighting machines driven by humans, race at speeds greater than 350 mph. Team Satomi, a crew of amateur pilots, has just won a minor-league championship, vaulting them into the sport's highest level, the IG-1. Now, the untested rookies of Team Satomi must overcome impossible odds and beat the world's most skilled and ruthless pilots in the planet's biggest event, the Immortal Grand Prix."
Mitsuru Hongo, director of IGPX said, "I have never been involved in anything in the past where I wished for everyone to watch it so badly. We are all trying very hard to make this the most entertaining animation ever. We will let the audience make the judgment on how different this is from anything else. The story gets more interesting as the season progresses, so I hope everyone stays tuned in to watch more IGPX!".
Bandai Entertainment has also teamed-up with Cartoon Network and Production I.G. to produce IGPX. "This exciting collaboration between Cartoon Network and Production I.G. features an awesome array of Hollywood voice talent and stylized music from Ninja Tune. I'm truly excited that Bandai Entertainment can play a role in what is sure to be an 'Anime Dream Team,'" said Ken Iyadomi, Executive Vice President of Bandai Entertainment. Bandai Entertainment, a long-time partner with Cartoon Network and its effort to bring Japanese animation to U.S. audiences, will serve as the licensing partner for IGPX.
5-31-05 (5:58PM EST)---- Gundam Official Announces User Forums
The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise was originally launched in Japan as an animated television series in 1979 and has since become a global pop culture icon and phenomenon. Spawning numerous television series, theatrical films, direct to home video (OVA) series, action figures, plastic model kits, video games, DVDs, and more the world of Gundam is celebrating its 25th anniversary and shows no signs of slowing down. Since the introduction of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing series on North American shores in 1999, the Gundam franchise has attracted a huge following with a new fans being introduced to this epic property each day.
"The purpose of the GundamOfficial User Forums is to allow the fans of the Gundam franchise to share their thoughts and feelings concerning the various series with others in a friendly atmosphere," said Jerry Chu, Marketing Manager of Bandai Entertainment. "With Gundam SEED currently broadcast on Cartoon Network and several new Gundam releases on DVD later this year, fans can visit GundamOfficial to seek answers to their questions and interact with others who share the same passion for the varied universe that is Mobile Suit Gundam. GOUF is designed to be an interactive resource of information."
5-31-05 (5:42PM EST)---- Gundam Sales Good
Nikkei Industrial News reports Bandai's overall sales related to the Mobile Suit Gundam property have experienced some all time milestones peeking in the period of March, 2004. Then sales were about 54.2 billion Yen. The success is attributed to the "Gundam Project" which was setup in house to facilitate relations with exisiting fans and taylor input into new works to acquire new fans. Gundam Seed Destiny and SD Gundam are results of the project. With The Gundam Zeta Movies now hitting theaters sales could be high into 2006. The article mentions a snag area of the Gundam franchise advancement can be found in the overseas foreign market. Gundam has apparantly not broke out as quite a big a hit as expected in the American market compared with popularity in Japan. The European market is said to contain the same story. Profits are also being hindered by the flood of the pirate goods despite huge popularity in the Asian market.
5-31-05 (5:34PM EST)---- Yaoi-con 2005 Event Announced
Yaoi-Con, the only Western fan
convention dedicated solely to the yaoi genre of Japanese anime and manga,
is pleased to announce its annual event, to be held the weekend of October
28-30, 2005 at the Westin San Francisco Airport hotel in California. 2005
marks Yaoi-Con's fifth anniversary and the organizers are looking forward
to the biggest and best event yet!
Created primarily by women for a largely female audience, yaoi is unique
in its exploration of deep platonic bonds and romantic relationships
between male characters. The intense and highly idealized examples of love
and romance commonly found in yaoi works are a major factor in the genre's
soaring popularity outside Japan, including the United States. In its
country of origin, yaoi is widely accepted and many popular mainstream
mangaka, or manga artists, had their start in the genre.
Since its inception, Yaoi-Con has been committed to the promotion and
celebration of this unique genre. So in honor of its fifth year
anniversary, the convention is very pleased to welcome a truly classic
guest of honor, well-known yaoi mangaka Kodaka Kazuma. Kodaka-sensei is
best known for the wildly popular, long-running Kizuna series, a manga
beloved by fans new and old alike. Additional guests will be announced as
they are confirmed.
As in years past, Yaoi-Con 2005 will feature such activities and events as
a 24-hour anime screening room; yaoi-themed panels and workshops; a
Dealers' Room packed full hard-to-find merchandise; a fundraising
Bishounen (beautiful boy) Auction; Fiction, Cosplay and Anime Music Video
contests; and much, much more.
Yaoi-themed anime and manga continues to enjoy a rising popularity in the
United States, and 2005 will see more titles released here than in all
years past. This greater commercial attention to the genre continues to
attract new fans and ensures the popularity and success of Yaoi-Con in
2005 and for years to come.
5-31-05 (5:34PM EST)---- Bandai Visual Overseas Licensing Performance
According to a Nikkei newspaper article dated April 15th Bandai Visual's overseas license division sales as of February, 2006 could exceed 50% of overall sales. In February, 2005 the same unit did 900 million Yen in business. Overseas sales are expected to be so high due to the lack of a masterpiece property in the domestic market. Bandai Visual's USA unit will begin business in May advancing sales within the American market even more.5-31-05 (5:11PM EST)---- 4Kids Announces Kirby Movie Release
4Kids Entertainment Home Video, Inc., the
home video unit of 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE), in association
with FUNimation Productions LTD, will release Kirby: Fright to the
Finish The Movie at retailers across the country on June 14, 2005, it was
announced by Joe Lyons, Director of Home Entertainment, 4Kids Entertainment.
One of Nintendo's most popular characters of all time, Kirby pours on the
power with more laughs, more action and more adventure in his first
full-length movie. Is this Kirby's final battle? Will this be the end of
Dream Land?
When a fleet of mysterious spaceships attacks Dream Land, Kirby embarks on a
nerve-shattering journey into deep space and confronts his ultimate
nightmare the diabolical eNeMeE. Can Kirby defeat the dark force of eNeMeE's
malevolent mindscape, or will eNeMeE realize his devilish dream of total
domination?
In addition to the full-length movie, the DVD includes:
-Bonus Kirby Episode: Hour of the WolfWrath
-- WolfWrath injures Meta Knight and Blade and Sword must now defeat him
with Kirby's help.
-Music Video: Kirby If Ya Can't Beat'em, Eat'em
-Music Video: What's Cooking on Kirby
Kirby: Fright to the Finish - The Movie
RUNNING TIME: Approx. 85 minutes
RATING: TV Y
PREBOOK DATE: 5/10/05
STREET DATE: 6/14/05
DVD SRP: $14.98
VHS SRP: $9.98 VHS
On June 13, 2005, the day before Kirby: Fright to the Finish The Movie is
released, Kirby will make his Nintendo DS debut in the new game Kirby:
Canvas Curse.
Kirby, one of the most widely recognized video game characters in the world,
has appeared in 17 Nintendo video games to date. More than 30 million Kirby
games have been sold worldwide since his video game debut a decade ago.
5-31-05 (4:43PM EST)---- Bandai Reviews American Strategy
According to a March 28th article in the Nikkei Ryutsu Shimbun Bandai is moving to review it's business development strategy in the United States. This will involve expanding character offerings and new commodity development.
Bandai's 'Astroboy' push has been discontinued due to unpopularity, Bandai mentioned it was not able to collect investment according to the article. The company is counting on D.I.C.E and 'Gouache Bell' as 2 of it's major character properties for 2005.
5-31-05 (4:17PM EST)---- eigoMANGA Ltd. Launches Anime And Marketing Production Firm For Businesses
eigoMANGA Ltd. announces the launching of eigoMANGA STUDIOS, a business to business production and marketing consulting firm specializing in producing anime and manga projects for clients looking to custom brand anime-themes for their marketing and business needs. eigoMANGA STUDIOS' services ranges from simple Japanese-to-English translation services, manga comic book publication and distribution, and animation and anime-themed television production. eigoMANGA STUDIOS also specializes in full scale integrated marketing campaigns.
eigoMANGA STUDIOS is answering the demand of companies and educational institutions that want to target the youth-oriented markets by using originally produced anime and manga themes custom tailored to fit their message.
eigoMANGA Ltd. creates its own projects like the highly acclaimed RUMBLE PAK and SAKURA PAKK American manga publication series. Furthermore, eigoMANGA Ltd. produces an ANIME MIX television program and its anime-themed live events and marketing campaigns. eigoMANGA STUDIOS will apply these resources to provide full scale production and marketing services to its clients. eigoMANGA Ltd. holds a unique distinction over other companies within the US anime and manga industry. The company has an internal and embedded creative pool of talent within the United States which enables eigoMANGA STUDIOS to produce an infinite array of original and custom anime-themed projects for its clients.
5-31-05 (3:56PM EST)---- Animation DVD Market Share In Japan
The Recording Industry Association Of Japan follows sales trends and market data regarding music and video software (CD's and DVD's) for the JDM. According to a recently released report covering 2004, video sales increased, achieving 196 billion Yen with 146 million units being produced. Genre breakdown shows animation titles representing around 2,777 of the 9,513 individual titles sold examined in the report (29%).
5-31-05 (2:57PM EST)---- IMAF Announces Winners
The winners of the first-ever annual international competition to identify the best in Manga and Anime talent in the world have been announced, with $75,000 worth of prizes being awarded by organisers IMAF the International Manga and Anime Festival.
The top prize goes to Kosal Sok, who won 'Outstanding Entry' for the brilliant animated film 'Weather Toy'. Living in Villepinte, France, Kosal is a final year student of animation art at Gobelins. The prize for 'Outstanding Entry' is $30,000.
Kosal describes Weather Toy as a short story about two children who play with a special remote which controls the weather.
There were also nine category winners, each receiving $5,000 dollars each. These are:
Comic Strip
The Kids Comic Strip prize has been awarded to Wing Yun Man for 'Sparkling Gift' her cute story about 11-year old Pikapikahikaru who needs to get a present for her best friend Chain, but she doesn't know what. Wing Yun Man is a freelance artist and designer, living in London.
The prize for the best Teens Comic Strip has gone to Sara Mayhew for 'Secrets of Sorcerers', the story of a young girl named Kaori Miki who enters the body of a dead mage in another dimension. Sara lives in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, and is a recent graduate of graphic design from Canadore College.
The Adult Comic Strip winner is Manuel Carot Gonzales of Barcelona for Ari. He is a professional comic artist and illustrator, and has previously won the Cornella and Calogne Comic Contests, and a Best Script Award in the Barcelona Comic Festival.
Character Design
Asia Alfasi, currently a second-year time-based-media student in Birmingham, is the winner of the Kids Character Design. She has drawn on her Arab heritage to create Monir, an Arabian muslim child (and a prince although he doesn't know it) who has learned to fight to stay alive and look after his twin sister Monira.
The Teens Character Design prize has been awarded to Ben Krefta for the creation of Sosuke, a thoroughly 'cool' Japanese/Korean guy, an artist in his own right, who spends many hours working on his artwork and original comic book stories, and produced caricatures in the mall rather than doing his homework. Ben is a kitchen designer and freelance artworker from a tiny Kent village, St Mary Hoo.
The Adults Character Design winner is David Millgate, a Sheffield-based freelance artist/illustrator for E.V.E (Eugenix-Vertex-Ectomorphic-model) a cutting-edge assassination robot, designed a built by robot conglomerate Eugenix-Inc, who are based on the satellite moon of I-O.
Short Film
Professional animator Ben Mars (credentials include Cubies and other children's animated series) won the Kids Short Film prize for Little Dog Turpie 'a fairy tale told the way fairy tales should be'. Ben, who lives on a narrow boat currently moored in Cardiff says of his film that it is 'morally and conceptually strong, meeting children's base fears and emotions.'
Madevi Dailly is the winner of the Teens Short Film prize with The Day the Buffalo Escaped, a story of lost childhood under the Khmer Rouge regime. Describing a moment of trauma and pain, it takes inspiration from the rich visual and mythological traditions in Cambodia. Medevi graduated from Edinburgh College of Art last year, and is setting up a new business to manage online and onscreen productions.
The Adult Short Film winner is Sabine Ravn for Bernie & Bingo. Sabine, who graduated from the Denmark Film School in 2004, and now works as an animation director, won the category for 'Bernie & Bingo'. The film is based on Sabine's own experiences and in the film she appears as the penguin Bingo.
According to Dr Andre Singer, of the competition organisers, many of the entries received for the 2004 competition were of a strikingly high standard.
"We were delighted at the level and quality of the work for this, the first international competition of its kind.
Plans for the next competition are already underway, and we're looking forward to launching this and the International Manga and Anima Festival 2005 at London's County Hall later this year."
5-31-05 (3:56AM EST)---- Toei Announces Sales Figures
Toei's second quarter earnings were released May 30th revealing current profits were down on 1st quarter reults at 10,086,000,000 Yen and net sales of 112,751,000,000 (10.7% decrease). The companies anime offerings in theaters included One Piece and Gouche Bell over the term. Sales expectations of 106 billion Yen and a profit of eight billion Yen are expected for the next term.
5-31-05 (3:56AM EST)---- MTAC 2006 Announced
Attention all Mtaku! MTAC Go (April 1st - 3rd, 2005) was a HUGE success! We set a new personal record with over 1,750 attendees gathering together in the heart of Nashville to celebrate anime fandom. Now we're in the middle of preparations for our NEXT event, MTAC 6th Period (April 21st - 23rd, 2006)!
To celebrate we've launched our new website available at www.mtac.net. We've also announced our first two guests for 6th period, vocalist/musician Lisa Furukawa Ray and groovy web comic, Scott Kurtz! Lisa stunned audiences at MTAC Go with her debut performance at an anime convention while Scott will be making his MTAC debut as well as being MTAC's first web comic guest at 6th Period.
Keep an eye on the MTAC website over the next few weeks as we announce our venue, special events, and other plans for 6th Period! We're still a year out but MTAC 6th Period is already shaping up to be an awesome event!5-31-05 (3:32AM EST)---- Shogakukan Profits Up
The Japanese website www.shinbunka.co.jp has a rare (the company is not listed) peek at the earnings of publishing giant Shogakukan whose
The shareholder meeting was carried out on May 30th. According to their data sales for the period equaled 154,544,000,000 Yen (2.9% increase compared with the previous year). Profits equalled 5,422,000,000 Yen (20.5% increase). This data is measured before taxes are cut. Several executive-level changes in management were announced including director Tetsuya Osumi who has been promoted to managing director.
5-31-05 (3:32AM EST)---- TYO Establishes Joint Chinese Company
TYO has become the first Japanese company involved in Animation production to establish a joint company in China. The announcement mentions this new firm will be referred to as Shitairen or East Dragon Animation Development Limited Company. The HQ will be in Tairen City and startup with a capital of two million dollars in August. TYO is investing 35% while 51% will come locally. 2 or more directors will be appointed by TYO Japan to begin developing character franchises and animation productions for TV immediately.
5-31-05 (2:45AM EST)---- Seven Seas Announces 12,000 PSP Manga Downloads
Seven Seas Entertainment announced today that there have been an astonishing 12,000 downloads from their web site, Gomanga.com, since last week, when they first made manga previews available in Sony PSP format. Seven Seas has become the first manga publisher to release free downloadable manga content for the Sony PSP and plans to continue the trend by releasing further chapters in coming months.
"This is only the beginning," says Seven Seas President Jason DeAngelis. "We've discovered that the Sony PSP is a great, innovative way to reach manga fans, and the fact that we're still a small company with flexibility means that we're able to work fast to provide original, free content for PSP users."
Currently, the entire first chapters of the four flagship Seven Seas titles -- Amazing Agent Luna, Blade for Barter, Last Hope and No Man's Land -- have been made available for all manga fans to download and read via the Sony PSP's built-in photo viewer. In all, 155 pages of downloadable manga have been specifically converted for optimal viewing on the Sony PSP with each special preview consisting of thirty to forty pages of story, giving readers on-the-go the perfect opportunity to sample the Seven Seas titles.
Source: Manga News Service
5-31-05 (2:29AM EST)---- First Anime Copyright Trust Established
The Japanese Bank Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. has become the first financial institution in Japan to take advantage of revisions to the nation's trust laws, forming a copyright trust surrounding a TV animation.
The Shizai trust abolished the limitation of the asset trust in December last year making this possible.
The Mizuho trust was contracted by the animated cartoon production company D-Rights regarding the copyright trust of the TV animation Gun Sword which is being co-produced by Victor Entertainment.
The Mizuho trust sells investors beneficiary rights to receive earnings such as license fee based on sales, overseas telecast / DVD release etc..
5-31-05 (2:02AM EST)---- Tokyo Anime Fair 2005 Attendance
The preliminary numbers are in for attendees to the TAF last month at Big Sight. The Tokyo International Animation Fair executive committee's tally over the four days was 83,966 people, compared 72,773 last year (15% increase). Business day visitors were up almost 19% at 18,919 people and general day visitors up 5% at 64,157 people over 2004. Foreign visitors on business days were expressed as 711 people versus 511 last year (almost 40% increase over 2004).
5-31-05 (1:53AM EST)---- New York Asian Film Festival 2005
At Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue, at 2nd Street) in Manhattan
-- June 17 - June 26, 2005 --
-and-
At The ImaginAsian (239 E. 59th Street, at 2nd Avenue) in Manhattan
-- June 24 - June 30, 2005 -
Subway Cinema returns like the Jedi to present its
fourth annual festival devoted to new feature films from Asia. This year
we1ve watched 180 movies, hand-picked the best 25, filtered them through our
unique cold water filtration system from our artesian wells, and let them
dry in the warm, New England sun so that when we serve them to you, you will
taste their freshness and flavor, as if you had picked these films yourself!
These are the most dynamic, highest-grossing, and award-winning movies from
China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand and Korea and, except for
two of them, they1ve never played New York before. After last year1s
sold-out festival, we1ve had to spread the festival over two venues: the
beautiful Anthology Film Archives in the East Village and the new Asian
American theater The ImaginAsian on the Upper East Side. There1s too much
festival for just one theater! We1re awaiting confirmation on a few titles,
but we1ve got 23 on tap right now (which have won a cumulative 28 awards)
and you1ll need to keep your eyes on www.nyaff.org and
www.theimaginasian.com for updated information. Advanced tickets go on sale
May 24th.
The Japanese pop meltdown, "Kamikaze Girls", kicks things off, and then
we1ve got Kim Ki-Duk1s "Samaritan Girl", winner of Best Director at Berlin
and unreleased in the US. We1ll be screening the multi-award winning
ecological survival film from China, "Kekexili", the horror omnibus film,
"ThreeSExtremes", featuring shorts from Takeshi Miike (Ichi the Killer),
Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy), and Fruit Chan (Durian, Durian) and starring Bai
Ling. We1ll also be holding the North American premiere of "Princess
Raccoon", the Zhang Ziyi musical directed by Japan1s legendary madman,
Seijun Suzuki, and currently playing at Cannes. There1s the Filipino version
of Spider-Man, "Gagamboy"; the Korean horror hit, "R-Point", set in the
middle of the Vietnam War. Shunji Iwai1s "Hana & Alice" is the latest flick
from the director of "All About Lily Chou Chou". "P", from Thailand, is a
horror movie about a bargirl in Bangkok using black magic, but it1s also an
unblinking look at the seamier side of Bangkok1s nightlife, and the director
is still lobbying to get the film released in Thailand. "University of
Laughs", a two-man movie starring Koji Yakusho (Doppelganger, Shall We
Dance?) is the funniest send-up of post 9/11 politics you1ll ever see, set
in 19401s Japan. Takeshi Shimizu, the director of "Ju-on" and "The Grudge"
is here with his latest film, the digital video excursion into hell,
"Marebito", which stars Japan1s one-man new wave, Shinya Tsukamoto.
Tsukamoto also directed (and wrote, and edited, and designed, and acted in)
two other films in the festival: his sexual blackmail liberation anthem, "A
Snake of June", and his anatomical love story, "Vital", which stars cult
fave Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer). Asano is also starring in the
anti-movie movie, "Survive Style 5+" and in the amazingly strange "A Taste
of Tea", one of the only movies you1ll ever see where a subway lives inside
someone1s head and an eight-year-old girl is haunted by a giant version of
herself.
5-31-05 (1:45AM EST)---- Bandai Visual On Next Gen DVD Standard
In a Japanese language financial statement dated April Bandai Visual expresed it was still researching next generation DVD standards Blu-Ray and HD DVD with a decision on which direction to go forthcoming at sometime in the future. In effect the company's neutral position on the issue has remained unchanged. 5-31-05 (1:42AM EST)---- Fans Turnout For Kazuma Kodaka Signing
America's first name in Yaoi graphic novels, Be Beautiful, is proud to announce that almost five hundred fans of Ms. Kazuma Kodaka, a pioneer and top-ranked artist of the Yaoi genre, attended her first autograph session in the United States, held at the Rockefeller Center Kinokuniya Bookstore in New York City at 2 pm on Saturday, May 14, 2005. Fans came from as far away as Holland to meet the artist in person, and get her autograph. The outpouring of support was a record turn-out for a manga artist at the venue.
Ms. Kodaka is the author of the best-selling Yaoi manga series in Japanese publishing history, Kizuna - Bonds of Love. Currently available in America from Be Beautiful, this ground-breaking romantic masterpiece has sky-rocketed to fame around the world, due to its engaging characters, deep romanticism, and unflinching erotic depictions of love between impossibly beautiful men. The film version of Kizuna received its U.S. premiere at New York's Japan Society the previous evening.
"We are happily surprised at how popular the Yaoi genre is becoming in America," said Masumi Homma O'Donnell, Publisher of Be Beautiful. "We worked with a variety of fan organizations and websites to promote this event, and we were extremely gratified to see that Ms. Kodaka was responsible for the best fan turn-out for a manga graphic novel so far."
Manga News Service5-31-05 (1:12AM EST)---- Guin Saga Novel Milestone - Animation Announced
With the release of the 100th installment of Kaoru Kurimoto's SF Fantasy novel series Guin Saga comes news the story will be adapted to anime. Running for 26 years the latest volume entitled 'Trial of Hyoutou' was released in Japan on April 8th. The animation will be part of an overall omnimedia venture titled "Guin Saga Project" bringing together three companies including Group Tac, Micot And Basara and Ten'oocami
Production. Micot And Basara is also involved in new Appleseed film being produced by John Woo. And like Appleseed the company confirmed they are aiming at a worldwide business plan for the project's deployment. Group Tac will aide in production with Ten'oocami supervising business development. Guin Saga is widely seen as Kaoru Kurimoto's lifework having first debuted in 1979. It's also said in Japan that the series is one of the longest novelizations in the world that one author has written.
5-30-05 (10:39PM EST)---- eigoMANGA Announces PSP Manga
eigoMANGA Ltd. announced today the debut of their new wireless manga publication, PSP PAK. PSP PAK is a new wireless publication series from eigoMANGA Ltd. featuring a collection of original full-color manga (including American manga) formatted exclusively for Sony PSP. The PSP PAK anthology series contains stories targeting a broad audience of manga and comic book readers.
PSP users are encouraged to download Issue #1 of PSP PAK for free from eigoMANGA.com; from there they can download and transfer the content to their PSP's memory stick.
Currently, eigoMANGA.com offers downloadable original manga stories featured in PSP PAK that reaches both male and female manga readers. For instance stories like 'Bleed 1.0' created by Carlo Borromeo is a story about a giant robot that bodyguards a little girl who is actually a powerful cosmic weapon. And there are also stories such as 'Lonlisom' created by comic newcomer, Hektor Thillet that tells a story about a group of outcast kids who team up to learn the ways of spirituality in order to reach their most desired dreams.
Source: Manga News Service5-30-05 (10:33PM EST)---- New Line Cinema To Adapt MONSTER Manga
New Line Cinema has acquired the feature film rights to "Monster," the fastest-selling Japanese manga comic book series ever, from legendary author Naoki Urasawa.
"Monster" is a fast-paced psychological thriller that tells the story of a young doctor who saves the life of a little boy - only to find a few years later that the life he saved was that of a brilliant killer. The doctor must then track down the young killer and solve a larger conspiracy.
"Monster" has previously been adapted into an animated Japanese television series and has spawned 18 volumes as a manga series.
"Naoki Urasawa is a phenomenal cinematic storyteller, and we're thrilled to have an opportunity to bring this incredible project to the screen," said producer Neil Kaplan.
The film will be produced by Trilogy Entertainment's Neil Kaplan, Pen Densham, and John Watson. The book's publisher, Shogakukan Inc., is executive producing the project.
"Monster" is among the most successful comics ever released. It has sold more than 25 million copies in Japan, and also found a strong following throughout Asia and Europe. In addition to "Monster," Shogakukan has produced a variety of books, comic books, animation, films and toys including the popular "Pokemon" series.
Overseeing the project for New Line are production executives Cale Boyter and Magnus Kim.
Source: Manga News Service
5-30-05 (9:50PM EST)---- Grave Showing At MOMA
Central Park Media is proud to announce that its celebrated feature-length animation Grave of the Fireflies will be screened at The Museum of Modern Art as part of an in-depth retrospective on the careers of two anime pioneers. The exhibition, titled "Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata: Masters of Animation", includes more than a dozen of the creators' greatest works from the past thirty years, and runs from June 3-30.
Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata are celebrated for their unique approaches to feature-length animation. While Miyazaki's films revolve around complex legends in fantastic settings, Takahata explores ordinary life in grim, unwavering detail.
"Grave of the Fireflies is renowned as a film classic that touches the human spirit in a way that few other films, either animated or live-action, have been able to do, and we are honored to assist MOMA with this important retrospective," says Shigeki Morii, Marketing Manager.
Grave of the Fireflies, written and directed by Isao Takahata, follows the plight of two orphaned children and their struggle to survive in the Japanese countryside during World War II. Through desperation, hunger and grief, these children's lives are as heartbreakingly fragile as their spirit and love is inspiring. Grave of the Fireflies, which Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert says "belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made", screens Sunday, June 5, at 5:00 pm.
Later this summer, Central Park Media will again assist MOMA in its "Anime!!" exhibition by providing the popular programs Revolutionary Girl Utena and Cat Soup. "Anime!!" runs from July 10 through September 12.
5-30-05 (9:15PM EST)---- Gonzo Advances Into Live Action Film
Gonzo Digimation Holdings announced it's subsidiary company GONZO known for animated hits such as Vandread, Last Exile and Blue Sub No. 6 will move into live action film production in the future. GDH mentioned the CG technology that has cultivated over the years coupled with international marketing clout and business strengths will be utilized in the venture.
5-30-05 (9:10PM EST)---- Warcraft Graphic Novel Global Domination
TOKYOPOP, the #1 publisher of manga in the U.S., is proud to announce that Warcraft: Dragon Hunt, the groundbreaking manga based on Blizzard Entertainment's immensely popular WarcraftR game universe, is the #1 graphic novel in Germany. According to Media Control, the official distribution panel of Germany, after a mere two weeks in the marketplace, Warcraft: Dragon Hunt ranks as the #1 best-selling manga on the German graphic novel charts for the week ending May 19.
"Warcraft's lead ranking on the German charts certainly exemplifies the growing acceptance of manga by a worldwide consumer audience," said John Parker, TOKYOPOP's President and COO. "We knew we had developed a strong story complemented by brilliant artwork, and seeing it at number one is extremely satisfying."
Penned by American New York Times best-selling fantasy author Richard Knaak and illustrated by Korea's Jae Hwan Kim, artist of TOKYOPOP's fan-favorite King of Hell series, Warcraft: Dragon Hunt, the first book in The Sunwell Trilogy, is truly a worldwide collaboration. A fresh take on the events in Warcraft III using original characters and storylines, the story follows the adventures of Kalec, a blue dragon who has taken human form to escape the forces that seek to destroy his race, and Anveena, a maiden with secrets of her own. What starts as a flight for survival turns into a quest to save the entire High Elven Kingdom from the forces of the Undead Scourge.
Now in its third printing in the U.S., TOKYOPOP's Warcraft has been firmly entrenched as a best-seller in the top ranks of BookScan's Adult Fiction Overall Trade Paper Graphic Novels for 11 consecutive weeks.
Next stop on Warcraft's world tour is Great Britain. Dragon Hunt is scheduled for a UK launch in June 2005, followed by releases in France, Italy, Greece and Scandinavia.
Manga News Service
5-30-05 (5:26PM EST)---- TIFCOM And ENTAMA Integrate
The trade events Tokyo International Film & Contents Market (TIFCOM) and Tokyo International Entertainment Market (ENTAMA) which are held annually in late October in conjunction with the Tokyo International Film Festival are integrating into a single event for 2005 called the "Tokyo Asia-Pacific Entertainment Market" (http://market.tiff-jp.net/).
TIFCOM deals with business rights related to movies, TV and home video. In 2004 the show was held in Roppongi Hills near the TIFF film festival drawing 83 companies and 1748 visitors (449 of which were foreigners).
ENTAMA which deals with a wide range of entertainment including games and music takes place in Makuhari Messe. 118 companies exhibited there in 2004 drawing 59000.
Rappongi Hills Mori Tower has been chosen as the venue for the combined market event running from October 26th-30th 2005. The 18th Tokyo International Film Festival runs from October 22nd-30th 2005.
5-30-05 (4:28PM EST)---- CPM Announces Digi-Press
Central Park Media is proud to announce a series of initiatives through its newly revamped CPM Press website (www.CPMPress.com), targeting both diehard graphic novel fans and casual readers alike. A number of offerings are slated to be rolled out over the coming months, including the launch of CPM Digi-Press, a new online resource that gives fans free previews of CPM's latest graphic novels.
CPM Digi-Press will enable fans to flip through virtual pages, zoom in on tiny details, and recreate the experience of reading a graphic novel while sitting at their computer. CPM Digi-Press content can be shared with friends via e-mail, and fans can purchase a hard copy of the title directly from the website.
The first three titles currently available represent a variety of genres: Yongbi the Invincible 1 is a comedic sword & sorcery fable, Couple 1 is a lowbrow romantic comedy, and The World of Narue 1 is a romantic sci-fi comedy (which spawned a successful anime series by the same name). A new chapter, averaging 20 pages, will be added to each virtual book every week. New titles, such as the critically acclaimed Hard Boiled Angel 1 and the highly anticipated Masca 1 will debut soon, so fans are urged to check the website frequently for new content.
CPM Digi-Press is a great way for our fans to sample new graphic novels," says Bochan Kim, Licensing and Marketing Supervisor. "We realize it can be difficult to track down new releases in some areas, and we're hopeful that CPM Digi-Press will entice readers to check out titles they might not otherwise have discovered on their own. It also serves as a way to give something back to the many readers who have made us so successful."
Another consumer friendly incentive is "The CPM Press 10th Anniversary Sale", which offers online buyers a 40% discount off cover price and a new low shipping & handling fee of only $1.00 per book. This promotion will run into June, at which time it will be replaced with a coupon promotion to coincide with the summer convention season.
Source: Manga News Service
5-30-05 (4:04PM EST)---- Animate And Bandai Channel Partnership
In Japan Anime goods retail giant Animate and internet video delivery hub Bandai Channel have announced a new partnership in cyberspace. The plan involves a web integration of both parties to begin in June that will connect respective revenue stream potentials such as goods sales and video delivery. Bandai Channel currently offers 158 works online.
5-30-05 (3:52PM EST)---- Sanrio Resumes Animation Production After 14 Years
Hello Kitty creators Sanrio have officially announced plans to re-enter animation production in Japan. This will mark the first time the company has been involved in the medium in 14 years. The first work from this new push will be an anime feature film which begins production in June. Featuruing company head Shintaro Tsuji's original creations 'Fairy Tale Of The Forest', 'Important Companions' or 'Cinnamon Roll', the movie has a March 2007 planned release. Sanrio's first animation came in 1975 and between that year and 1991 they released 31 films into theaters before abandoning the medium due to low profits (although there was a hit such as "Kitakitsne Story"). This time co-investors will include a major TV network and toy company. Production cost for the 2007 feature is estimated at 500 million Yen. Sanrio is already persuing delivery option such as Television, DVD, overseas export and the Internet.
5-30-05 (12:53AM EST)---- Akitaro Daichi And Reiko Yasuhara At Anime Next 2005
AnimeNEXT, the NY/NJ Metro area anime convention, is proud to announce that Akitaro Daichi and Reiko Yasuhara have accepted invitations to appear at the event on June 17-19.
Mr. Daichi earned his first success when he directed Fairy Princess Ren, followed by the popular Nurse Angel Ririka. Mr. Daichi made his way into the main-stream anime community with his direction of the hugely popular Kodomo no Omocha, also known as Kodocha or Child's Toy. This was followed by his direction of the Sugoiyo Masaru-san (Sexy Commando Masaru-san) TV series.
Mr. Daichi then tried his hand at both writing and directing with Jubei-Chan, followed by Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran. Mr. Daichi's more recent projects to be released in the US include the critically acclaimed TV series Now and Then, Here and There, a story he both created and directed. Mr. Daichi's latest projects which he directed are Fruits Basket and Jubei-Chan 2.
Singer and Voice Actress Reiko Yasuhara is best known in Japan as one of the three members of the all female j-pop group Shoujo Tai. Ms. Yasuhara has also performed the theme song to the anime Now and Then, Here and There as a solo artist. As a voice actress Ms. Yasuhara played Abelia in Now and Then, Here and There, Tsukikage Ran in Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran, Kyoko Honda and Saki Hanajima in Fruits Basket and Tsumura Mikage in Jubei-Chan 2.
Mr. Daichi and Ms. Yasuhara will be taking part in panels at AnimeNEXT 2005. AnimeNEXT will also be featuring anime showings of Mr. Daichi and Ms Yasuharafs work.
5-30-05 (12:45AM EST)---- TAF 2006 Dates
The Tokyo International Anime Fair announced it's 2006 dates along with details it will cover the East Hall 1 and 2 of Tokyo Big Sight. The fair will run from Thursday March 23rd through Sunday, March 26th. The first 2 days will be business only with the weekend opening up to the general public.
5-30-05 (12:23AM EST)---- Powerpuff Girls Anime
A press conference was held on April 1st at the Tokyo Anime Fair to officially announce plans between Toei Animation, Aniplex and Cartoon Network who are adapting the popular American cartoon Powerpuff Girls to Anime. Temporarily titled Powepuff Girls Z, the anime will bring together Mr. Hideo Mata of Full Metal Alchemist and Sam Register of HiHi Puffy AmiYumi.
5-30-05 (12:23AM EST)---- CPM Announces Kakurenbo-Hide & Seek
Central Park Media, America's leading supplier of Japanese anime, is proud to announce the acquisition of Kakurenbo-Hide & Seek, the company's first 3D computer-generated animation, scheduled for an October 2005 release. Although yet to be released in Japan, Kakurenbo-Hide & Seek has already generated significant buzz, as it has been screened at numerous animation festivals, including "Tokyo Style in Stockholm 2004", the "Tokyo International Fantastic Music Festival 2004", and the "Onedotzero" festival in England. The film is also scheduled to screen at the Fantasia Festival in Montreal in July 2005.
Kakurenbo-Hide & Seek follows a group of eight masked teens as they engage in a deadly game of Hide and Seek with a group of bloodthirsty demons under the streets of Tokyo. The fast paced story follows Hikora and Yaimao, who've joined the sinister game in order to find their sister who disappeared during a previous game. This dark, sinister film is the very first production effort from YAMATOWORKS, a new production company with unparalleled imagination.
To further promote this compelling program, the Kakurenbo-Hide & Seek trailer may be downloaded for viewing on the red hot Sony PSP at CPM's website (www.centralparkmedia.com/psp/). "Anime fans are always on the cutting edge of technology, and we wanted to enhance their enjoyment of the PSP while promoting this tremendous new program," says Shigeki Morii, Marketing Manager.
5-29-05 (11:57PM EST)---- Kadokawa Announces Guyver TV
At the Tokyo Anime Fair last month Kadokawa Shoten formally announced the TV animation adaptation of Guyver. The sci-fi tale featuring living armor and giant monsters has in the past been animated and adapted to live action film. The television series is scheduled to be telecast on WOWOW this summer. The US based ADV Films is jointly developing the work which Kadokawa has comissioned due to the long standing international popularity of the series which included American film spinoffs. Directing the new TV series is Gen Akiyama, Creature design by Masato Sawada, Production by Genco, OLM.
5-29-05 (11:43PM EST)---- Anime Vegas Returns
Either you're in or you're out! Either you already know what's happening in Vegas on Halloween weekend, 2005, or you don't care.
If you're one of over 1,000 Anime enthusiasts, who attended the First Annual Anime Vegas Convention 2004, you have collectively convinced the staff volunteers to begin organizing the 2nd Annual Anime Vegas Convention scheduled October 28-30 at the Cashman Center, Las Vegas Nevada.
Activities and features will include Anime screenings, Dealer's Room, J-POP Video Showcase, Cosplay, Anime Music Video Contest, Electronic Gaming, cartoonmogul.com's Big Cartoon Exhibition, and several invited guest, from the Anime industry. Scheduled to appear in person,artist/voice actress Samantha Inoue Hart (Sakura Wars, Final Fantasy), ADV Film's voice actor Greg Ayres (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Full Metal Panic), FUNimation's Laura Bailey (Dragon Ball Z, Kodocha),, voice actress Colleen Clinkenbeard (Lupin, Kodocha), Darren Dunstan (Yu-Gi Oh, Pokeman), Wayne Grayson (F-Zero Falcon Densetsu, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle), Megan Hollingshead (Pokeman, Yu-Gi Oh), and Liam O'Brien Anime script writer/ADR, Director Koi Kaze, Rumiko Takahashi (Anthology, DearS and Boys Be). For more information, check out the convention's website at www.animevegas.com .
Anime Vegas is a non-profit organization to promote awareness of Japanese Culture and Entertainment in Las Vegas, providing a public forum for those, who share an interest in Anime, a subculture of animation fans. Because of Anime's viral popularity across the nation and around the world and the growing number of Anime enthusiasts and clubs, in the city, adding gAnime Vegas,h to the repertoire of events, within the convention capital of the world, made perfect sense.
Armed with passion and a desire, not to mention a dedicated staff of organizers, Anime Vegas decided to produce the first Las Vegas Anime Convention. Attendance, garnered only by word of mouth and Internet bulletin board postings, surpassing wildest expectations and has convinced the organizers to continue the event.
It's happening again!
For more information: www.animevegas.com
5-29-05 (11:31PM EST)---- Mcdonalds Japan Rockman Toys
In a running promotion honoring the new Rockman anime movie's opening in Japan, over March and April Mcdonalds Japan included several character toys in it's Happy Set kids meal. The campaign officially ran between March 25 and April 21 and was scheduled to run in other Asian countries this summer. Rockman is being offered as a boy's option in Happy Sets while Milmo toys are being offered to girls. Interestingly, Shogakukan, Shopro and TV Tokyo own the copyrights to both.
5-29-05 (11:20PM EST)---- Oshii And Ishikawa Lecture At University Of Tokyo
Production I.G. President Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and Ghost In The Shell Director Mamoru Oshii both adressed students at the University of Tokyo's Hongo campus on May 9th. The open Yasuda Hall lecture was directed at the graduate school's informatics ring contents creation education program.
5-29-05 (11:13PM EST)---- Ken Groove Sues NuTech Digital
On May 20, 2005, Ken Groove, a Japanese Corporation filed a civil lawsuit against NuTech Digital, Inc., a California corporation in Los Angeles for breach of contract, accounting, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, constructive trust, and for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
Ken Groove alleges that NuTech was in breach of its animation distribution agreement with Ken Groove by allegedly tendering payments in the sum of $292,000 on insufficient funds and failing to abide by Ken Grooves distribution agreement.
Ken Groove is also seeking payment of unpaid royalties on all titles distributed by NuTech and its distributors, as well as an injunction restraining NuTech Digitals conduct.
Ken Groove also alleges that NuTech has allowed its titles to be digitally distributed via streaming technology without Ken Groove's consent.
5-29-05 (10:57PM EST)---- Report: Anime Revealed As Key Facet Of Japanese Cinema
According to the recent report "Film Industry Trend Of Japan" published in Japan Economic Monthly No. 14, anime's worldwide and domestic ranking at the top of Japan's movie industry offerings is examined. The publication promotes Japan's various trade interests. The nation's domestic film market is experiencing a steady revival that began in 2004 which culminated in the release of Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle at the end of the year. The number of venues where films can be viewed has also increased with the recent vast expansion of multiplex cinemas. The business trend in Japan for many years was for individual film distributors to own or affiliate with theaters and exclusively distrubte their product through them. Multiplexes have changed this dynamic in a big way and the number of such movie houses in Japan is still realtively small compared to other developed countries. Likewise, in foreign markets anime films continue to make advances in local box-office tallies, although still not approaching blockbuster hit status on the whole.
Although a bit dated the report rounds out with a list of main animation films screening around the world in 2003: USA: Millenium Actress, Cowboy Bebop, Tokyo Godfathers, Pokemon
Britain: Spirited Away
Germany: Dragonball Z, Vampire Hunter D, Inter Stella 5555
Italy: Spirited Away, Cowboy Bebop, Inter Stella 5555
France: Inter Stella 5555, Cowboy Bebop
South Korea: Metropolis, Princess Mononoke, Cowboy Bebop, Porco Rosso
All
Stories, Graphics And Material © Anime News Service Unless Otherwise Cited
Questions,Comments,News Submissions
Back To Anime News Service